Here is a list of terms that students writing the English 10 Provincial Exam are expected to understand.
Please note that some of these terms have not been taught in English 11 - you may have been taught them in earlier classes! Here is another list of terms you should know:
*Please note that this list is unfinished - and won't be completed for some time. It does, however, list all of the terms you are required to know! For now, please use the files above to define these terms.
Examinable Terms and Devices in Literature (English 11)
A Active Voice
When speaking or writing in the active voice, the subject of a verb does the action.
For example: The dog bit my friend.
Also see: Passive Voice
Alliteration
Involves the repetition of a sound in a group of words or line of poetry.
Usually is the first letters of the respective words.
For example: The sun sank slowly.
Allusion
Is an indirect reference (connection) to a person, story or situation in literature or history.
For example: My mark went the way of the Titanic! (my mark went down)
For example: He was Romeo to her Juliet. (They were madly in love, but not meant to be together)
Analogy
To make a connection between two different things to show how they are similar using inference.
For example: The solar system is similar to an atom. (they both have a centre, that objects circle)
Antagonist
The person or thing in conflict with the protagonist of a story.
For Example: The antagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy, is named Sauron.
Anti-Climax
A part of a stories plot.
Is an event that appears as if it could end the conflict in the story, but doesn't.
For example:
Aside
A piece of dialogue in a play that is intended for the audience and supposedly not heard by the other actors on stage.
For example:
Argumentative Essay
Expository writing that proves your claim is better than other claims about a subject or topic.
Assonance
The repeated use of a vowel sound, usually contained within words. Similar to Rhyme.
The repetition of similar or identical vowel sounds (though with different consonants), usually in literature or poetry
For example: "Sweet Dreams"
For example: "Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage, against the dying of the light." (Dylan Thomas, "Do not go gentle into that good night")
Atmosphere
The dominant tone or mood of a work of art. See "mood."
The readers for printed matter, such as a book, poem, short story or infotext.
The spectators or listeners assembled for a performance, listening to a radio or watching a film, television or other visual medium.
May also refer to the audience that an author or poet intended for his/her work.
Autobiography
The non-fictional story of a person's life written by that person.
B Ballad
A narrative story or poem (it tells a story).
Is divided into different Stanzas.
Often has a recurring (repeating) refrain or chorus.
Bias
An opinion that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation.
For example:
Biography
The non-fictional story of a person's life written by someone other than that person.
For example:
Blank Verse
Poetry without a rhyme scheme, but usually following a meter.
For example: Shakespeare wrote most of his plays in blank verse in Iambic Pentameter (meter).
For Example:
I let my neighbour know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
- "The Mending Wall," Robert Frost C Cause and Effect
A topic for paragraph or essay writing that discusses or analyzes the reasons for, and/or the consequences of, an action, event, or decision.
Often used in Social Studies or History!
For example:
Character
A fictional or imaginary character represented in a work of fiction, such as a short story, novel, poem or play.
Character Foil
A foil is a character who serves as a contrast to another perhaps more primary character, so as to point out specific traits of the primary character.
For example: In The Shawshank Redemption, Brooks is a character foil for Red. Brooks, having been institutionalized during the 40 years he lived in prison, feels that he has no choice but to end his life when he is released. Red is also tempted to kill himself for the same reasons, but chooses to believe in hope because of Andy. Thus, Brook's suicide shows us how difficult it was for Red to choose to live, and emphasizes how much Andy had changed Red.
For example: In "the Giver," by Lois Lowry, Asher is a character foil for Jonas.
Chronological Order
When events are arranged in the order in which they occured.
The Chronological Order of a plot can broken by flashbacks.
Foreshadowing, prophecy or flash-forwards can also break the Chronological Order of a plot.
Cliche
An expression or idea that is overused.
A character or person whose behaviour is predictable or superficial.
For example: Life is like a box of chocolates...
Climax
The part of a plot which ends the conflict in a story.
Is typically the most emotional or action-packed moment of the story.
For example:
Colloquial
Informal spoken language, which may, or may not follow the rules of grammar.
Often includes regional slang or accents.
For example: The dialogue of Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," is written in a colloquial style.
Comedy (drama)
A genre of literary work, usually drama, which has a happy ending.
For example: A romantic comedy often ends with a marriage or engagement.
Also includes literature that emphasizes humour, be it slapstick, physical, satire or other forms.
Compare
To show the similarities between two things.
Conflict
The problems encountered by characters within a narrative.
It is usually because of the conflict that the plot moves forward.
Who conflict is between is typically identified as "person vs. ." This could be:
Nature, machine, person, nature, supernatural, self, society
The type of conflict can also be identified. For example, the conflict could be emotional, intellectual, physical or moral.
Connotation
The feelings and connections attached to a word.
NOT the dictionary definition of the word.
For example: Skinny is a neutral word. Svelte is a postive word used to describe models and beauty. Boney is a negative word, perhaps even an insult.
Consonance
A literary device similar to Rhyme or Assonance.
Is the repatition of the same consonant sound within a sentence or line of poetry.
For example: "themurmuring of innumer__able bees" (m's and r's)
Contrast
To show the differences between two things.
Couplet
A stanza of two rhyming lines of poetry.
Critical Incident
The first major complication in a story or plot.
Removes the possibility the setting or characters will remain static (unchanging).
D
Denotation
Denouement
Description
Dialogue
Diary
Diction
Direct Presentation
Dissonance
Drama
Dramatic Irony
Dynmaic Character E
Editorial
Elegy
Epic
Exposition
Expository F
Fable
Falling Action
Fantasy
Figurative Language
First Person POV
Flashback
Flat Character
Foil
Foreshadowing
Formal Essay
Free Verse G
Genre
Graphic Text/Novel H
Hero
Hyperbole
is pronounced hi-PER-bow-lee, not hyper-bowl. It is a poetic technique often used by poets.
There were galaxies of stars in her eyes. The night before finals, I must have studied for about a million hours.
Hyperbole is gross a exaggeration to create a particular effect (gross meaning immense, not disgusting, in this case).
I
Idiom
Image
Imagery
Indirect Presentation
Informal Essay
Internal Rhyme
Irony J
Jargon L
Legend
Limited Omnicient POV
Literal Language
Lyric M
Metaphor
Metonymy
Metre Mood
The feeling the reader gets when reading a literary work Mystery
Myth N
Narration
Narrative
Narrator O
Objective POV
Ode
Omniscient POV
Onomatopoeia
Oxymoron P
Passive Voice
Paradox
Personal Essay
Personification
Persuasion/Persuasive
Plot
Point of View
Propaganda
Pros and Cons
Protagonist
Proverb Q
Question and Answer R
Refrain
Repetition
Research
Resolution
Rhetorical Question
Rhyme
Rhyme Scheme
Rhythm
Rising Action
Round Character S
Satire
Setting
Simile
Slang
Sonnet Speaker
The speaker is the narrator or the voice of the literary work. “The speaker” is not necessarily the poet or author
When discussing a literary work, refer to the person vocalizing the words as “the speaker,” instead of “the poet.”
A poet can give his character any ideas or beliefs that are necessary for the execution of the literary work’s purpose. Stanza
Static Character
Stereotyped Character
Style
Subjective language
Surprise Ending
Suspense
Symbol/Symbolism T
Theme
Third Person POV Tone
A literary work's tone is the attitude that its style implies. The author’s attitude toward a subject The tone can be revealed through choice of words and details Ex. Pessimistic, optimistic, seriousness, humorous, joyful,Hopeful, Sarcastic, Angry, Sad etc.
Please note that some of these terms have not been taught in English 11 - you may have been taught them in earlier classes!
Here is another list of terms you should know:
However, these definintions are a little harder to understand! These terms are also all found below.
Here are a few more lists of terms!
*Please note that this list is unfinished - and won't be completed for some time. It does, however, list all of the terms you are required to know! For now, please use the files above to define these terms.
Examinable Terms and Devices in Literature (English 11)
AActive Voice
- When speaking or writing in the active voice, the subject of a verb does the action.
- For example: The dog bit my friend.
- Also see: Passive Voice
Alliteration- Involves the repetition of a sound in a group of words or line of poetry.
- Usually is the first letters of the respective words.
- For example: The sun sank slowly.
Allusion- Is an indirect reference (connection) to a person, story or situation in literature or history.
- For example: My mark went the way of the Titanic! (my mark went down)
- For example: He was Romeo to her Juliet. (They were madly in love, but not meant to be together)
Analogy- To make a connection between two different things to show how they are similar using inference.
- For example: The solar system is similar to an atom. (they both have a centre, that objects circle)
Antagonist- The person or thing in conflict with the protagonist of a story.
- For Example: The antagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy, is named Sauron.
Anti-Climax- A part of a stories plot.
- Is an event that appears as if it could end the conflict in the story, but doesn't.
- For example:
Aside- A piece of dialogue in a play that is intended for the audience and supposedly not heard by the other actors on stage.
- For example:
Argumentative Essay- Expository writing that proves your claim is better than other claims about a subject or topic.
Assonance- The repeated use of a vowel sound, usually contained within words. Similar to Rhyme.
- The repetition of similar or identical vowel sounds (though with different consonants), usually in literature or poetry
- For example: "Sweet Dreams"
- For example: "Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage, against the dying of the light." (Dylan Thomas, "Do not go gentle into that good night")
Atmosphere- The dominant tone or mood of a work of art. See "mood."
- Examples: Cheerful, depressing, upbeat, serious, playful, comic etc
Audience- The readers for printed matter, such as a book, poem, short story or infotext.
- The spectators or listeners assembled for a performance, listening to a radio or watching a film, television or other visual medium.
- May also refer to the audience that an author or poet intended for his/her work.
Autobiography- The non-fictional story of a person's life written by that person.
BBallad
- A narrative story or poem (it tells a story).
- Is divided into different Stanzas.
- Often has a recurring (repeating) refrain or chorus.
Bias- An opinion that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation.
- For example:
Biography- The non-fictional story of a person's life written by someone other than that person.
- For example:
Blank Verse- Poetry without a rhyme scheme, but usually following a meter.
- For example: Shakespeare wrote most of his plays in blank verse in Iambic Pentameter (meter).
- For Example:
I let my neighbour know beyond the hill;And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
- "The Mending Wall," Robert Frost
C
Cause and Effect
- A topic for paragraph or essay writing that discusses or analyzes the reasons for, and/or the consequences of, an action, event, or decision.
- Often used in Social Studies or History!
- For example:
Character- A fictional or imaginary character represented in a work of fiction, such as a short story, novel, poem or play.
Character Foil- A foil is a character who serves as a contrast to another perhaps more primary character, so as to point out specific traits of the primary character.
- For example: In The Shawshank Redemption, Brooks is a character foil for Red. Brooks, having been institutionalized during the 40 years he lived in prison, feels that he has no choice but to end his life when he is released. Red is also tempted to kill himself for the same reasons, but chooses to believe in hope because of Andy. Thus, Brook's suicide shows us how difficult it was for Red to choose to live, and emphasizes how much Andy had changed Red.
- For example: In "the Giver," by Lois Lowry, Asher is a character foil for Jonas.
Chronological Order- When events are arranged in the order in which they occured.
- The Chronological Order of a plot can broken by flashbacks.
- Foreshadowing, prophecy or flash-forwards can also break the Chronological Order of a plot.
Cliche- An expression or idea that is overused.
- A character or person whose behaviour is predictable or superficial.
- For example: Life is like a box of chocolates...
Climax- The part of a plot which ends the conflict in a story.
- Is typically the most emotional or action-packed moment of the story.
- For example:
Colloquial- Informal spoken language, which may, or may not follow the rules of grammar.
- Often includes regional slang or accents.
- For example: The dialogue of Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," is written in a colloquial style.
Comedy (drama)- A genre of literary work, usually drama, which has a happy ending.
- For example: A romantic comedy often ends with a marriage or engagement.
- Also includes literature that emphasizes humour, be it slapstick, physical, satire or other forms.
Compare- To show the similarities between two things.
Conflict- The problems encountered by characters within a narrative.
- It is usually because of the conflict that the plot moves forward.
- Who conflict is between is typically identified as "person vs. ." This could be:
- Nature, machine, person, nature, supernatural, self, society
- The type of conflict can also be identified. For example, the conflict could be emotional, intellectual, physical or moral.
Connotation- The feelings and connections attached to a word.
- NOT the dictionary definition of the word.
- For example: Skinny is a neutral word. Svelte is a postive word used to describe models and beauty. Boney is a negative word, perhaps even an insult.
Consonance- A literary device similar to Rhyme or Assonance.
- Is the repatition of the same consonant sound within a sentence or line of poetry.
- For example: "the murmuring of innumer__able bees" (m's and r's)
Contrast- To show the differences between two things.
Couplet- A stanza of two rhyming lines of poetry.
Critical Incident- The first major complication in a story or plot.
- Removes the possibility the setting or characters will remain static (unchanging).
DDenotation
Denouement
Description
Dialogue
Diary
Diction
Direct Presentation
Dissonance
Drama
Dramatic Irony
Dynmaic Character
E
Editorial
Elegy
Epic
Exposition
Expository
F
Fable
Falling Action
Fantasy
Figurative Language
First Person POV
Flashback
Flat Character
Foil
Foreshadowing
Formal Essay
Free Verse
G
Genre
Graphic Text/Novel
H
Hero
Hyperbole
is pronounced hi-PER-bow-lee, not hyper-bowl. It is a poetic technique often used by poets.
There were galaxies of stars in her eyes.
The night before finals, I must have studied for about a million hours.
Hyperbole is gross a exaggeration to create a particular effect (gross meaning immense, not disgusting, in this case).
I
Idiom
Image
Imagery
Indirect Presentation
Informal Essay
Internal Rhyme
Irony
J
Jargon
L
Legend
Limited Omnicient POV
Literal Language
Lyric
M
Metaphor
Metonymy
Metre
Mood
The feeling the reader gets when reading a literary work
Mystery
Myth
N
Narration
Narrative
Narrator
O
Objective POV
Ode
Omniscient POV
Onomatopoeia
Oxymoron
P
Passive Voice
Paradox
Personal Essay
Personification
Persuasion/Persuasive
Plot
Point of View
Propaganda
Pros and Cons
Protagonist
Proverb
Q
Question and Answer
R
Refrain
Repetition
Research
Resolution
Rhetorical Question
Rhyme
Rhyme Scheme
Rhythm
Rising Action
Round Character
S
Satire
Setting
Simile
Slang
Sonnet
Speaker
The speaker is the narrator or the voice of the literary work. “The speaker” is not necessarily the poet or author
When discussing a literary work, refer to the person vocalizing the words as “the speaker,” instead of “the poet.”
A poet can give his character any ideas or beliefs that are necessary for the execution of the literary work’s purpose.
Stanza
Static Character
Stereotyped Character
Style
Subjective language
Surprise Ending
Suspense
Symbol/Symbolism
T
Theme
Third Person POV
Tone
A literary work's tone is the attitude that its style implies. The author’s attitude toward a subject
The tone can be revealed through choice of words and details
Ex. Pessimistic, optimistic, seriousness, humorous, joyful, Hopeful, Sarcastic, Angry, Sad
etc.
Tragedy
U
Understatement
V
Voice